Gestores de Base de Datos

Cardiovascular system

Geranium oil and the components geraniol, linalool and citronellol produce a fall in blood pressure in experimental animals (Tisserand and Balacs, 1995) but reliable observations from human experiments are not available.

Central nervous system

Inhalation of vapour from essential oils affects overall activity of mice and although Pelargonium oils do not appear to have been studied, geraniol, linalyl acetate and citronellal are sedative (Buchbauer et al., 1993).

In humans, exposure to the vapour of Pelargonium oils affects certain brain waves (contingent negative variation, CNV) but both depression and stimulation have been reported (Torii et al., 1988; Manley, 1993).

General activity

Pelargonium oils have not been the subject of well controlled clinical trials for either the inhalation of the vapour or application through massage.

CONCLUSION

Results from experiments on isolated guinea-pig ileum demonstrate that the majority of Pelargonium oils, and their components, produce a relaxation of smooth muscle through a mechanism that involves the enzyme adenylate cyclase and a rise in the concentration of the second messenger, cAMP. There is some evidence of calcium channel blockade but only at concentrations higher than those required to produce a significant spasmolytic effect. This is in contrast to other essential oils, such as peppermint oil, for which there is good evidence of calcium channel blockade (Hills and Aaronson, 1991). The pharma-cology of the central actions of Pelargonium has not been studied sufficiently to reach any conclusions. Preliminary results using more hydrophilic extracts of Pelargonium species and cultivars (using methanol and water) indicate that most have a contractile effect Pharmacology of Pelargonium essential oils and extracts 129

initially which is followed by a relaxation. There is also some evidence that a few methanolic extracts use calcium channels at normal concentrations, but many have shown no such activity, in keeping with the mode of action of their equivalent essential oils.

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